Parachute and aircraft projectile



May 2, 1944.

A. J. DE CAMP PARAQHUTE AND AIRCRAFT PROJECTILE Filed Sgpt. 24, 1941 Ila-T1- Patented May 2, 194% amass worse srs'rss rarest orrice PAR-ACHUTE AND AIRCRAFT PRGJECTILE Alfred B. De Camp, Molina, Colo.

Application September 24, 1941, Serial No. 412,187

7 Ciaims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved projectile designed primarily for use against parachute troops and aircraft.

One object of the invention is to provide a projectile carrying a plurality of cables or the like wound thereon and secured thereto at one end, with weights on their other ends, the cables being adapted to unwind under the influence of the rotary motion imparted to the projectile by the rifling of the gun from which it is shot, the wound cables and their weights being preferably started outwardly by firing of an explosive charge.

Another object is to provide a projectile of the class set forth in which the cables or the like are hollow and contain rocket powder, that is, a powder which will burn without exploding. This owder is ignited at a desired distance from the gun and the discharge of gases from the cables -r the like tends to stiffen them, not only aiding in causing the cable unwinding operation but causing the cables to extend more rigidly from the projectile body after they have been unwound. The discharge of hot gases from the cables also imparts a highly incendiary nature to the invention and provides an effective tracer at night, and the smoke from the combustion of the escaping gases also forms a tracer during daylight.

A still further object is to make novel provision for so holding the cable weights upon the body of the projectile that they may fly therefrom under the influence of centrifugal force, after having been released by powder explosion or otherwise.

Yet another aim is to provide novel structure whereby the means which releases the weights from the projectile body also serves a the means for igniting the rocket powder in the cables when the projectile has reached the desired distance.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure l is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the rear portion of the pro jectile,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on line i4 of Fig. 1.

A construction for use in a rather large caliber projectile is shown and it is preferably only in the larger calibers that the cable or the like he hollow and contain rocket powder or the like. For anti-aircraft purposes, either in attacking ships in flight or ships in an airdrome, the larger calibers are used and in fact the invention may be in the nature of an aerial torpedo instead of an actual projectile to be fired from a gun. For use against parachute troops, the smaller calibers are preferably employed. The weighted cables in projected relation with the projectile body will serve effectively to foul propellers and otherwise injure aircraft, and the incendiary nature of, the device may in a great number of cases fire a plane, parachute, observation balloon, etc. Parachutes can also be literally torn to pieces with the invention.

In the construction herein disclosed, which may be considered as preferred, certain specific features of construction will be rather definitely described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The projectile body comprises a nose 5, a shank 6 projecting rearwardly from said nose, and an annular flange 'l projecting from said shank near its rear end, so that the space between said flange and said nose 5 may constitute a reel or spool upon which to wind a plurality of cables or the like 8 which will be hereinafter referred to only as cables, with the understanding that they might be of other nature. At one end, each cable is secured to a ring 6 which rotatably and slidably surrounds the shank t. For example. cap screws 9 and washers H) are illustrated in Fig. 4 for securing the cables to the ring 6 At their other ends, which ends are the outer ends of the cables when said cables are wound, weights 1! are suitably secured to said cables, said weights being disposed against the rear side of the flange l and being so secured to the rear end of the shank 6 that they may fly outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force, after they are initially disconnected from the projectile. In the present showing, the weights H are of segmental form and their front sides are provided with radial grooves H2 in which the cable'ends are secured by clamps or the like IS. The cable ends extend rearwardly from the rearmost convolutions of the coils and extend across the peripheral edge of the flange l and then extend radially inward into the grooves I! in which they are secured by the clamps l3. It is preferable that each cable end have a return bend I4 which extends radially outward with respect to the shank 6.

The weights H may well have suitable bevels H which lessen air resistance and cause'the weights to act somewhat as kites pulling outward upon the cables.

The projecting rear end of the shank 6 is provided with radially projecting studs which are frictionally received in sockets E6 in the inner ends of the weights ll, thereby frictionally connecting said weights with the shank 6. When the cables 8 are of hollow form to contain rocket powder 8', the studs l5 are tubular as shown in Fig. 2, with the outer ends of said tubular studs in communication with passages I! which in turn communicate with small openings clamped portions of the cables. The inner ends of the tubular studs l5 communicate with radial ports l9 whose inner ends communicate with a chamber 26* with which a central passage com municates, said passage 20 extending to the rear, The'various'passages terminal of the shank 6. 20, i9 and I! and chamber 20 contain explosive powder 2| and the powder within the passage 26 i fired by the flaming of the propulsive charge when the projectile is fired from a gun, or may be fired by means of a fuse or time mechanism.

. This powder burns until it ignites the rocket pow der 8' in the cables 8. By this time, the weights II have left the shank 6 under the influence of the powder explosion and centrifugal forceand the cables then unwind, partly under the influence of the rotation of the projectile (due to the gun rifiing) and partly under the influence of the rocket powder burning and discharging from the cable ends. The cables thus project from the projectile body in readiness'to wreak havoc upon aircraft and parachutes, or other fragile targets against which the projectile may be fired, as wire entanglements. When the cables are fully unwound, the rearward pull which the exert on the ring 6 slides this ring rearwardly toward the flange l and as the cables trailsomewhat they have no serious tendency to pull the projectile from the desired line of travel. With the cables extended, the projectile continues-to rotate but does not turn the ring 6* and, therefore, does not tend to rewind said cables.

Obviously, the projectile nose may either be of an appropriate metal to properly engage the rifling of a gun barrel, or may be provided with a rifiing band (old and not, therefore, shown). This nose could be of explosive nature if desired and provided with suitable time or impact fuse. Similarly, the weights l I might contain explosive charges to be fired when striking the plane or the like, or to explode before reaching the ground, when used for anti-aircraft purposes.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, but attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A projectile comprising a body peripherally exposed to directly engage the rifling of a gun barrel, said body having a tapered nose and a central spool portion behind said nose, a plurality of cables connected at one end to said body and wound upon said spool portion, the outermost windings of said cables being exposed and constituting part of the periphery of the projectile, weights to which the outer ends of the wound cables are secured, and detachable connecting means between said weights and said body to free said weights when the projectile is in flight.

18' in the 2. A projectile comprising a body, said body having a, nose, a shank projecting rearwardly from said nose, and an annular hangs on said shank spaced forwardly from its rear extremity, a plurality of cables rotatably and slidably connected at one end to the front portionof said shank and wound around said shank between said nose and said flange, the'outer ends of said cables being extended rearwardly at the periphery of said annular flange, a plurality of segmental weights surrounding the rear portion of said shank and disposed against therear side of said annular flange, said weights being secured to said outer ends of said cables, the inner extremities of said weights'being formed with radial sockets, and radial studs secured to the rear portion of said shank and frictionally received in said sockets.

,3. A projectile comprising a body having a spool portion, a plurality of cables connected at one end to said body and wound upon said spool portion, Weights to which the outer ends of the wound cables are secured, and detachable connecting means between said weights and said body to free said weights while the rojectile is in flight, said cables being hollowand containing rocket powder, and means for firing said powder.

4. A projectile comprising a body having a spool portion, a'plurality of cables connected at one end tosaid body and wound upon said spool portion, weights to which the outer ends of the Wound cables are secured, anddetachable connecting means between said weights and said body to free said weights while the projectile is in flight, said detachable connecting means between said body and weights consisting of projecting radial studs on the body fitting frictionally into sockets in said weights.

5. A projectile comprising a body having a spool portion, a plurality of cables connected at one end to said bodyand wound upon said spool portion, weights to which the outer ends of the .body to free said weights while the projectile is in flight, the connection between said cables and said body comprising a ring rotatably and slidably surrounding said spool portion and connected with said cables.

6. A projectile comprising a body having a spool portion, a plurality of cables connected at one end to said body and wound upon said spool portion, weights to which the outer ends of the wound cables are secured, and detachable connecting means between said weights and said body to free said weights while the projectile is in flight, said cables being hollow and containing rocket powder, said detachable connecting means between said weights and body consisting of powder-filled tubular radial studs carried by the body and frictionally received in sockets in the weights, said weights having powder-filled passages communicating with said tubular studs for firing the rocket powder within said cables, and means for exploding the powder in said tubular studs.

'7. A projectile comprising a body, said body having a nose, a shank projecting rearwardly from said nose, and an annular flange on said shank spaced forwardly from its rear extremity, a plurality of tubular cables containing rocket powder, said cables being rotatably and slidably connected at one end to the front portion of said shank and being wound around said shank between said nose and said flange, the outer ends of said cables being extended rearwardly at the periphery of said annular flange, a plurality of segmental weights surrounding the rear portion of said shank and disposed against the rear side of said annular flange, the front sides of said weights having radial grooves in which the cable ends are secured, the inner extremities of said Weights being formed with sockets and with powder-filled passages extending from said sockets to the cable ends, said ends having openings communicating with said passages, tubular powder-filled radial studs secured to the rear portion of said shank and frictionally received in said sockets, and means for exploding the powder in said tubular studs.

ALFRED J. DE CAMP. 

